AUKUS largesse
Do opponents of the proposed subsidisation of selected Australian manufacturing, also have a problem with handing over $5 billion to the British government to subsidise research and development of AUKUS in the UK?
Malcolm McDonald, Burwood
Warranty included please
We have come to a situation where we have almost no choice but to buy exclusively imported products – from toasters to solar panels. We know that what we are getting, along with the ridiculously low price, is often shoddy quality and planned obsolescence.
Anyone who cares about waste, baulks at the knowledge that the concept is to use it for its short life then throw it to landfill to buy a new one. Rinse and repeat. If there is anyone still doing the relevant repairs the parts will be superseded or the labour costs more than the replacement purchase.
If a “future made in Australia” came with greater quality control and “right to repair” considerations as part of the deal, I’d predict there would be some huge long-term gains for consumers – and the planet.
Liz Levy, Suffolk Park, NSW
Small town shortages
I agree with your correspondent (Letters, ″Go to the country″, 13/4), but has he been to many small country towns lately? Besides lack of accommodation, many of them don’t have banks, medical facilities, libraries, service stations, reliable mobile and internet coverage. Also, jobs are scarce, and opportunities for higher education virtually nil. Young people have to leave small towns to get a job or training. What is needed are huge amounts of funding and building works to get these dying towns back on their feet.
Margaret Collings, Anglesea
Escape from the chateaux
Re Letters (12/4). Two letters side by side were eye-opening. On the left, “No room for more”, rightly said we must ration the migrant intake as we are already “using more resources in this country (and the world) than it can sustainably provide”. On the right, “Squeezed into Balwyn” remarked upon the change, not exclusive to his area, of the proliferation of faux French chateaux, which use vast quantities of building materials for a fortress almost covering a full housing block, leaving no room for trees in the process.
Those faux chateaux use materials that would have built two post-WWII and mid-century homes. Statistically, two of those smaller homes would have housed more twice the “mum, dad and two kids” of one modern monster.
In a time when there is a shortage of housing, building materials and tradesmen, is it not time to consider getting more “bang for our buck”, and for the environment, by reintroducing the building restrictions of the post-WW II period? We Boomers made happy memories growing up in those “half-size” houses. More, but smaller houses could solve a lot of our current problems.
Margaret Callinan, Hawthorn
Recycle solar panels
More efficient solar panels are outrunning our desire and imperative to recoup and recycle the valuable components in them. Replacing photovoltaics earlier than predicted has led to a predicament where lack of recycling facilities is noticeable (“Tonnes and tonnes of old solar panels with nowhere to go” 14/4).
Rather than each state acting independently now is the time to work together. Maybe a future ″Made in Australia″ could co-ordinate Australia’s ability to recycle our ″used″ panels. The US and other countries are doing it, why can’t we?
Isabelle Henry, Ascot Vale
Influencer waste
I wonder if the content creators (“Leading the way in social media’s geriatric gerontocracy”, 14/4) had time to read “Generative AI moves from out of the cloud into physical world” (13/4).
Energy hungry data centres constitute a dark side to the thousands of videos, for each of thousands of influencers, that we use to give us the “courage to wear colour”. It’s a worry.
Lesley Walker, Northcote
Asbestos probe needed
The argument that asbestos in mulch is unlikely to be dangerous to children misses the point as asbestos shouldn’t be there in the first place. And how certain are we about these claims it is safe?
Outdoor play is vital for children’s development and health. It strengthens their bones and muscles, boosts their immune system, and is important for developing gross motor skills and social skills. These are just a few of the many benefits.
Parents need confidence the playgrounds they are taking their children to are not contaminated with asbestos. Children need adults to protect and advocate for them. I support the establishment of a taskforce to investigate asbestos in mulch and a statewide audit of asbestos on public land.
Yvonne Bowyer, Surrey Hills
Kindness and cost
Re ″Airbnb asked John to host a guest in trouble. It ended up costing him thousands″, 14/4 ). It’s disturbing to equate this global ″homestay″ revenue raising businesses with helping someone out with a place to stay for no financial benefit.
Allowing a stranger to stay in your own home is an act of trust that always carries risk. Australia is a reasonably safe country, but throughout history people have always provided shelter to vulnerable folks – in a room, a barn, a porch, a shed – when life and conditions were infinitely more dangerous.
If you’re providing accommodation as a business, you have to professionally risk manage. If you’re doing it as an act of kindness, you accept the risk that comes with kindness and care.
Global homestay businesses are a proven economic and social blight. Happy holiday experiences notwithstanding, they sow cynicism and distrust.
Anna Ridgway, Abbotsford
Hooliganism’s 15 minutes
The rampant contumacious youth, who, under the spell of Warhol’s curse, terrorise our suburbs and out themselves through videos to social media with arrogant displays of self-indulgent malicious hooliganism, must be treated harshly.
No more should a stern warning from an overly tolerant magistrate, hearing stories of the violent young offender’s past difficult circumstances, be accepted. This anti-social behaviour tears at the fabric of a safe and peaceful society and must be treated with the severity it deserves.
Peter Finn, Tallarook
Cop MONA sweet
The women only room at MONA is obviously a cultural exhibit. It makes the point that throughout history men have dominated the room, and in many ways and places still do. It does seem somewhat puerile for men to object; they should learn to cop it sweet.
Michael Read, Carnegie
Opposition low
I am a member of the ALP and want to see the continuation of the Albanese government.
Paradoxically, I want a strong opposition as I believe it leads to a stronger and even more effective government.
Yet, Australia has a weak opposition led by a fearmongering leader whose extravagant and dangerous language undermines community harmony.
The Opposition Leader’s recent statement drawing upon the horrors of the Port Arthur massacre is a new low. Australia deserves better than Peter Dutton.
Andrew Hewett, Brunswick
Alcohol-free costs
“Why is beer so expensive” (14/4) lists the cost breakdown of making a typical alcoholic IPA. The excise on this alcohol is 45.7 per cent. This begs the question as to why alcohol-free beers such as Great Northern blue ($13 per six-pack) have similar prices as the alcoholic Great Northern varieties (about $15)? Who is filling the cost vacuum? Who is profiting from this discrepancy?
Andrew Smith, Leongatha
AND ANOTHER THING
Heroic action
Is it too early to call Australian of the Year for the police inspector who stopped the man in Bondi and thus prevented further tragedy? Yes, she was doing her job, but if this doesn’t merit our highest honour, I don’t know what does.
Samantha Keir, East Brighton
Furthermore
What would happen if the world said to Israel and the Arab nations, ″we’ve had enough, no more weapons, you sort it out and come back to us with a solution″?
Michael Brinkman, Ventnor
Stop the world; I want to get off (even if it’s only for a few days).
Myra Fisher, Brighton East
″Treasurer warned of turmoil ahead of budget″, (The Age 14/4 ). Jim Chalmers, don’t forget to budget for your ″pre-election sweeteners″.
David Cayzer, Clifton Hill
Yes, Liz Truss’ short-stay accommodation is awful, maybe more politicians should experience the humiliation of it (″Number 10 was a ″prison infested with fleas″, says former British PM″, 14/4).
James Lane, Hampton East
As the Dulux 10L Wash and Wear Low Sheen Natural White Paint continues to cleave to your columnist’s mind (″Hey companies, you’re way too clingy,″ 13/4), I hope neither lose their sheen. Thank you for the hearty laugh.
Jane Ross, San Remo
Dear Ed, an idea for a new column – it won’t take much space: “Peter Dutton’s Daily Positive Comments”.
Lindsay Donahoo, Wattle Glen
I was disturbed by your chef’s references to “frosting” in her apple cake recipe (Good Weekend, 13/4).
What happened to that great Australian term “icing”?
Alistair Davies, Thornbury
Finally
Some sportswriters are saying that the Doggies may be pretenders rather than contenders for the finals.
I prefer to think of them as intenders.
Robin Jensen, Castlemaine
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